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Women’s Cricket, Pioneers and Unsung Heroes
The important contribution
made to women’s cricket by former students of
Dartford College of Physical Education
© The Ӧsterberg Collection
Jane Claydon
2021
Unsung Heroes
A great deal of publicity has been given to women’s cricket in the last decade and yet,
some modern authors, in their histories of the game, have not included the names of many
talented international cricketers with links to Dartford.
Perhaps this is because the authors were not taught
by members of staff trained at a Specialist College of Physical Education and are unaware of the heritage of
Dartford, Bedford, Chelsea, Dunfermline and other later foundations.
As a result, they have missed out on a rich history of women cricketers and administrators.
I am sure Mary Duggan would be surprised to find that her lengthy and
significant career is not highlighted in one recent publication.
I have attempted to redress the balance and introduce the reader to many other players
who trained at Dartford College. They may not be household names, but during their careers they
influenced the development of the game for women and the outcome of many significant matches.
Information about the history of women’s cricket is easy to find. Several books of interest have been
published in the last half century. Perhaps, Nancy Joy’s Maiden Over, published in 1950, is overlooked by
younger researchers, but it is a source of interesting details about the 1948/49 tour to Australia and
New Zealand in which the author participated.
The Cricket Archive can provide details of the performance of all England women cricketers, the WCA year
books are available to view online and many of the players feature on the pages of Wikipedia.
Wisden 1970 includes information about Enid Bakewell’s successful career.
As recently as 19th June 2021, TV commentators have continued to say that Enid was
the best all rounder ever in the women’s game.
I have included a number of early cricket photographs, taken at Dartford,
which many readers will not have seen. They are held in The Ӧsterberg Collection.
© Jane Claydon and The Ӧsterberg Collection
2
Cricket was the first team game to be played by Madame Bergman Ӧsterberg’s students
when her college was in Hampstead.
Several old students from that era recalled that they travelled by train to Neasden, wearing their tunics and
were called those dreadful girls. They were coached by a Mr Ballard.
A few early students, such as Ethel Stevenson (1891), had played cricket at
school and so were familiar with the game.
Contents
1. Cricket at Madame’s college, firstly at Hampstead and later at Dartford Page 4
2. Influential cricketers who attended college at Dartford Page 12
3. Early stages of the Women’s Cricket Association Page 13
4. International cricketers who attended college at Dartford 1915—1939 Page 17
5 The 1934/35 tour to Australia and New Zealand Page 19
6. Significant women cricketers who attended Dartford College of Physical Education:
i) Mary Duggan (1946) Page 20
ii) Norma Preston (Mrs Izzard) (1954) Page 25
iii) Rachel Heyhoe (Mrs Heyhoe Flint) (1960) Page 27
iv) Enid Turton (Mrs Bakewell) (1962) Page 28
7. International cricketers who attended college at Dartford 1957—1968 Page 29
8. Appendix Ruth Westbrook (Mrs Prideaux) Page 31
References Page 32
I am most grateful to members of The Ӧsterberg Collection team who have given me ideas and
information.
Rosemary and Alan Gamwell have both provided assistance and also some instruction about how to
access the online catalogue and the dates of some of the early photographs.
Christobel Elliott, has been particularly helpful. She provided the names of several old students who had
played international cricket.
Christobel also drew my attention to Enid Bakewell’s inclusion in Wisden in 1970 and that TV
commentators are still suggesting that Enid was the best all rounder ever in the women’s game.
The photographs and the information from the Year Books published by the WCA have revived long
forgotten information.
Jane Claydon and The Ӧsterberg Collection
3
Cricket at Madame’s college, firstly at Hampstead and later at Dartford
Cricket had been introduced to the students at Hampstead College of Physical Training by 1891. Several early
students made mention in letters or recalled in reminiscences, of travelling to Neasden to play in the summer
evenings. A Mr Ballard was the cricket coach.
By the early 1890s cricket was a very well established game in many girls’ schools. Gillian Avery, in The Best Type
of Girl, recorded that girls at The Chantry School, in Somerset, played cricket in the 1860s. Examples of girls’
schools with connections to college who played in the 1870s and 1880s include: Sidcot School where the girls
played in 1872, Moira House, which played in the 1870s and St Leonards which introduced cricket in 1878. Girls at
The Mount School, York collected money for bats, wickets and balls in 1879 and The Princess Helena College
started cricket in 1885. Ethel Stevenson, who completed her training at Hampstead in December 1891, appears in
a photograph of a Notting Hill and Ealing cricket team, dated 1887. An early Notting Hill and Ealing school
magazine recorded a match against The Princess Helena College in 1887.
Roedean had a school team by 1888. Their games were supervised by Christabel Lawrence (1887) who was
apparently scathing in her criticisms of the girls:
whose absence from cricket practices result from their innate frivolity, going to town, riding, bathing or even
playing tennis.
Ethel Stevenson (1891) taught for two terms at St Leonards in 1892. In July that year, the Captain of School
commented on the marked improvement in cricket due chiefly to Miss Stevenson’s careful coaching.
Madame’s decision to move her college in 1895, to Kingsfield on Dartford Heath, enabled cricket to prosper and
other team games to develop. However, Mr Ballard was unable to continue in his role as cricket professional.
Madame appointed someone else as Ethel Rigby (1898) in a letter, dated February that year, said:
In cricket we are coached by a professional who comes down four evenings a week.
© The Ӧsterberg Collection
Ethel Adair Roberts’ album
4
Games Record, Cricket. Madame’s Report 1895
© The Ӧsterberg Collection
Beatrice Marriage and Hannah Williamson would have played cricket while at
Polam Hall and The Mount School, before they entered college.
It is not known where Elsie Feesey, Mildred Westlake or Margaret Lucas were educated.
Miss Bowyer was a well known lady cricketer at that time.
(The use of the terms Old students and New students, in this context meaning Old, those from
Hampstead and New from Dartford.)
5
© The Ӧsterberg Collection
© TӦC
Top left: Miss Bowden (1901). A member of staff by
1903
Left: Wyndham Emma Hughes Hallett (1904)
Above : Mabel Speight (1904)
6
These photographs are from an album compiled by E. Silvia Cowles (1903).
The dated photographs on page 6, also show the students wearing shoes, black stockings and a cricket
pad worn on just one leg.
7
These photographs are undated
but suggest
they may have been used
to demonstrate
the bowling action.
8
Album created by Annette Cronchey (1909) © The Osterberg Collection
9
Before WWI, local boys and young men played cricket at college in the evenings
with some of the students
© The Österberg Collection
Katherine Rigold’s album 1909—1911
© TӦC © TӦC
All these photographs are included in Katherine Rigold’s album. E.R. Clarke (1906) was a member of staff
in 1911 but, it seems likely, that Mr Palmer was the cricket professional.
The Kingsfield Book of Remembrance recorded that Madame invited C.B. Fry to coach her students.
The date is unknown but, it may have been during the time when his step daughter, Sybil Hoare,
was at college,1904—1906.
(C.B. Fry was an outstanding sportsman and probably best remembered as a cricketer. In 1895 he played for
England for the first time on the South African tour and went on to captain England in 1912.)
101913 cricket team © The Ӧsterberg Collection
1928. Left: L. Hinds and R. Dakin
Above L. Hinds
11Influential cricketers who attended college at Dartford
Kathleen Doman (1917) proposed the motion which resulted in the founding of the WCA in 1926.. She was
a founder member and a member of the first WCA committee which also included: E.R. Clarke (1906) and Clarice
Partridge (1912). The first WCA games began in 1927. Hope Douglas Brown, later Vice Principal of Anstey
College of P.E. was a keen cricketer and played for the Rest of England in 1929, as did Miss Haddelsey, when
London and District played them in the first public match. Kathleen Doman and Mollie Child were the Dartford
representatives for London and District. (The Rest won 215 runs to London 176 for 9.)
The aim of the association was to encourage the development of clubs, which would hopefully lead to the
formation of county teams. The AEWHA had found this model successful. Norah Strathairn (1912) was based in
St Andrews by 1926 but she played in some games for the WCA. These early teams were not selected. The idea
was to encourage play and arrange for matches to take place in different parts of the country. This enabled those
in more far flung areas to play with their friends from time to time.
Internationalists.
Only Muriel E. Haddelsey was one of Madame’s own students.
Haddelsey Muriel E. (M.E.) (1915)
Haddesley Margaret J. (M.J.) (1919)
Joy Partridge (1920)
Elizabeth M. Child (Mollie) (1929)
Helen E. Green (Betty) (1929) Manager of the 1934 touring team to
Australia and New Zealand
Mary F. Spear (1934)
Mary Duggan (1946)
Norma Preston (Mrs Izzard) (1954)
Mollie Hunt (Mrs Buckland) (1957)
Sheila Plant (1958)
Jacqueline Elledge (Mrs Wood) (1958)
Rachael Heyhoe (Mrs Heyhoe Flint) (1960)
Mary Pilling (Mrs Evans) (1960)
Ann Jago (1960)
Sandra Brown (1961)
Enid Turton (Mrs Bakewell) (1962)
Jill Cruwys (Mrs Smart) (1965)
Heather Dewdney (Mrs Hole) (1968)
Pam Ferdinand (Mrs Mather) (1968)
Chris Watmough (1968)
Isabel Nowell Smith (1931) umpired the 1st test between England and Australia in 1951, the second
test between England and Australia in 1963 and, in 1976,umpired the 2nd ODI v Australia.
12The Women’s Cricket Association Year Books
These year books are available online and the first publications are a source of interest to those associated with
Dartford College. They record the involvement of Dartford old students in the early development of the WCA.
The opening page of https://womenscrickethistory.org/ states:
In the Summer of 1926, a number of friends assembled in the Village of Colwall near Malvern to amuse
themselves by playing some cricket together. Miss Cox (Vera) and Miss Doman sponsored a two/three day tour
to Colwall, where the Park Hotel, then owned by Colonel and Mrs. Scott-Bowden, was their headquarter.
It was at this event that the idea of a Women’s Cricket Association was first mooted.
The WCA Report 1926 includes the Minutes of the Ist meeting. It gives the names of those present and a
list of apologies. Kathleen Doman was in attendance. Apologies were sent by Miss Catherine Whyte (1918), E.R.
Clarke (1906) and Clarice A, Partridge (1912). They can be identified as old students. (Clarice A. Partridge was the
older sister of Joy Partridge who left college in 1920.)
Discussion included subscription fees. Kathleen Doman suggested 10/6 for playing members but, it was an
amendment, proposed by Miss Nowell Smith, which was passed—that the subscription for the first year should be
5/- and members could send more if they pleased.
The first Officers of the newly formed association included Dartford trained: Kathleen Doman (1917) Clarice A.
Partridge (1912) and E.R. Clarke (1906).
The WCA Report 1927 provides more information about the involvement of former Dartford students with
the association. E.R. Clarke, Kathleen Doman and Clarice Partridge had been joined on the committee by M.E.
Haddelsey (1915). Other Dartford names include: Yvonne Neame (1921) Audrey B. Ash (1907) Mary Hankinson
(1898), Hope Douglas Brown (1918), Miss Hoare perhaps Sybil Hoare (1906) and Elizabeth Mafie (1924).
Perhaps the most interesting proposal, contained in this report, was that Kathleen Doman, proposed, and was
seconded by Miss Hoare (possibly Sybil, the step daughter of C.B. Fry) that men should be invited to become
Honorary Members of the WCA. After some discussion the original proposal was withdrawn and a new one put
forward which suggested:
That there shall be honorary members, including men; the selection being left in the hands of the members.
Kathleen Doman and Miss Hoare were keen to recognise that some of the male cricketers had supported the
women by granting the use of grounds and had provided coaching for the women players.
There was agreement amongst these early women cricketers that the men’s ball was too large. M.E. Haddelsey felt
the 4¾ oz ball or youth ball would be better. Kathleen Doman favoured a larger 5 oz ball. It was decided that
players should experiment during the season. A suggestion to adopt a 21 yard pitch was ‘left open’.
E.R. Clarke by this stage had been involved in the first committee of the Ladies Lacrosse Association, established
in 1912, and she went on to be a member of the AENA in 1930. She was a sought after committee member on
several National Governing Bodies. On the subject of the formation of clubs it was recorded:
Miss E.R. Clarke spoke on the necessity of finding County or Area representatives who would work up their own
particular districts and devote their energy to forming clubs. She suggested that no county team be formed
under a minimum of three clubs.
The 1927 Report recorded that Dartford, Bedford, Chelsea, Anstey and Liverpool PTC had joined the WCA, plus
twenty eight schools and twelve clubs. The WCA’s fixture list included a variety of opposition. Some individual
players organised teams and matches were not limited to members or the WCA. Teams from Cheltenham Ladies
College, Wycombe Abbey School, The Princess Helena College, St Felix Southwold and Sherborne were also
included when the WCA arranged tours to different parts of the country.
By 1928 the size of the ball had been agreed; 5 oz was to be used by adults but the smaller, 4¾ oz ball would be
used in schools. However, the smaller ball was used at Cricket Week and different sizes continued to be tried for
some time. The WCA were delighted to beat Dartford’s Ist XI in July. The 1928 Year Book mentioned it was the
first time for 5 years that the college team had been defeated. By 1928 the number of affiliated schools had risen to
thirty two and twenty one clubs had been founded.
Both Kathleen Doman and Clarice Partridge were early umpires and umpired in 1937 at the first test. See https://
womenscrickethistory.org/History/umpires_and_scorers.html
13Miss Constance Applebee founded The Sportswoman in 1922. It was a flourishing publication.
It concentrated on hockey and lacrosse but it included other sports from time to time.
Many students trained at Dartford wrote articles for the publication including Kathleen Doman,
E. R. Clarke, Joy Cran, and Cecily Bartle. Rosabelle Sinclair was a Contributing Editor.
This publication was viewed and photographed at West Chester University, PA in 2015
All Dartford trained players
141929 © St Leonards School
WCA XI
A Women’s Cricket Association team visited St Leonards in 1929.
Above, seated centre right, is Norah Strathairn (1912), Marjorie Pollard is on her left and Vera Cox on her
right. Probably Clarice Partridge (1912) rather than Joy Partridge, far left back row, E.R. Clarke (1906) back
row, centre right with J. Hatten, far right. Elizabeth Macfie (1924) is sitting on the far left, on the grass, with
Betty Snowball in the centre.
The WCA were very fortunate that Marjorie Pollard was a very keen player, and a founder member of the
association. She was able to ensure the women
cricketers received very good publicity.
© SLS
Marjorie was the Editor of Hockey Field and Lacrosse
and later, in 1930, founded and edited Women’s
Cricket.
She submitted copy for newspapers including The
Morning Post, the Evening News and The Observer.
Copyright laws do not allow the reproduction of
newspaper articles in other publications but a copy of
The Morning Post, published 22nd of May 1929
included, probably a very typical account of a WCA
match, in this case in Scotland.
The column was headed Women’s Cricket, Association
Team’s Tour in Scotland.
The text left, therefore, comes from the St Leonards
School Gazette rather than a newspaper and describes
the match.
This entry in a school magazine is probably very typical
of accounts of school matches against the WCA team.
15Members of the WCA XI returned to play at St Leonards in 1930.
Norah Strathairn is wearing a dark blazer, back row, left.
Kathleen Doman (1917), a founding member of the WCA, wearing white, is partially hidden
in the centre of the photograph. Betty Archdale, a future England captain, is on the very extreme left.
Vera Cox, another founding member of the WCA, is on the far right, middle row.
Front row, Betty Snowball, left, Marjorie Pollard, centre and Elizabeth Macfie, right.
© St Leonards School
WCA XI
© SLS
16International cricketers who attended college at Dartford 1915—1939
Kathleen Doman (1917) At a meeting in London of fellow
women cricketers on 26th October 1926, Kathleen proposed the
formation of a central association for women’s cricket. This was
passed and Kathleen became a founding member of the Women’s
Cricket Association. She was a well-known cricket coach and
umpire.
In 1927, former Dartford students: Kathleen Doman, Norah
Strathairn, Clarice Partridge and M. Haddelsey, featured in an
article about the England Women’s Cricket Association, written by
Vera Cox, in The Sportswoman, a publication produced by
Constance Applebee for American women interested in sport. (It
was a similar magazine to Hockey Field and Lacrosse.)
Kathleen was one of the umpires for the first of the Test matches v
the Australian Women, in Northampton in June 1937.
Muriel E. Haddelsey (1915) known as M.E., and her sister
Margaret Joyce Haddelsey (1919), known as M.J., were both Kathleen Doman
early England cricketers. © The Ӧsterberg Collection
Nancy Joy in Maiden Over said: M.E., the batsman, an elegant
player: M.J. tossing up left-handed slows.
M.E. played for the Rest of England, as did Hope Douglas Brown
(1919), in the first women’s match to have a public audience. It took
place at Beckenham on 17th July 1929,
The occasion received much publicity, both locally and nationally. The opposing team, London and District
included Kathleen Doman (1917) and Mollie Child (1929). The Rest of England won, by 215 runs, to London’s 176
for 9.
Netta Rheinberg, in Fair Play, recorded the WCA selectors chose M.J. for the first representative England team in
1933 but, as she was unable to play, M.E. took her place. England beat The Rest, whose captain was Hope
Douglas Brown (1919), by 94 runs.
M.E. and M.J. were selected to play for England, in the first of the Test matches v the Australian Women, in
Northampton in June 1937. It was the first time two sisters had played in a Test Match together. They both scored
8 runs in the first innings. M.J. also played in the second Test Match, at the end of June, in Blackpool.
In Maiden Over, Nancy Joy, also mentioned Norah Strathairn (1912) and Olive Andrews (Bedford 1918), both
members of the games department at St Leonards, in St Andrews. Nancy had made reference to bowlers and
included this comment:
Miss Andrews and Miss Strathairn, emerging at intervals from their northern mists, tossed them up gravely and
with sly success.
Joyce (Joy) Evelyn Partridge (1920) played cricket for England and was selected for the first women ’s
cricket tour to Australia and New Zealand in 1934. She took 6 for 96 in the second Test which helped England to
win the ashes. She also played for Buckinghamshire and the South. She died in 1947 after a long illness.
An obituary, written by Molly Hide, who had been taught by Joy at Wycombe Abbey School, was published in the
WCA Magazine in June 1947. It included:
When the WCA Team was selected to tour Australia in 1934 Joy Partridge was chosen principally for her
batting… one remembers her more as a bowler. The Australian crowd delighted in her rather peculiar run up to
the wicket and her slow, high-well-pitched up balls. If the batting had become rather dull ‘’We want Partridge’
or ‘Put on Partridge’ became the familiar cry from the crowd. Her bowling certainly gave much pleasure, as did
her slip fielding, where her incredible agility and anticipation succeeded in her making some amazing catches...
She did much for the development of cricket in Buckinghamshire and she was President of the County
Association and founded the Wyandots Club. At Cricket Week she was well known and captained a team for
several years.
17Elizabeth Mary Child, known as Mollie Child (1929) was a middle order batsman. Mollie was one of the key
members of the first women's tour when England travelled to Australia in 1934/35. She had to give up her post at
Queen Ethelburga’s School in order to participate. Mollie played in all three Tests. In the one-off Test in New
Zealand, she hit an unbeaten 86 in an innings and 337 run win. She played in the first two Tests of the return series
in 1937 but was dropped after making 22 runs in four innings.
Green, Helen Elizabeth (Betty) (1929) was invited by the WCA to be a player/manager of 1934/35 Touring
Team to Australia and New Zealand. She did not play in the Test matches or state matches but she played in
other games. After the tour the WCA Magazine May 1935 recorded Betty’s reflections:
The Tour was a success; definitely so: not because the English team returned unbeaten (though that was
gratifying…) but for far more important reasons. Our fifteen players established most friendly relations
everywhere with opponents, officials and the general public.
Mary Frances Spear (1934) was born in Bath in 1913. She was a member of the pioneering touring team and took
5 wickets for 15 in the first ever test in Australia. She played in the first four Test matches against Australia and
New Zealand on the tour and helped England win the Ashes. She was a middle order
batsman and medium paced bowler.
E.G. Jane Pollard (1939) was not an international cricket player but she achieved
notoriety in cricket circles as she took 5 wickets with 5 consecutive balls during a school
match, in 1936, while a pupil at St Paul’s School. Jane was presented with the trophy,
left, recording her success. The story of her success is recorded in The Kingsfield Book of
Remembrance:
She was hailed in the press as a ‘demon’ bowler and Female Larwood.
Jane joined the staff at Dartford in 1947 and was appointed Principal Lecturer in 1957.
© TӦC
Six years later she joined H.M. Inspectorate and in 1971 was appointed Staff Inspector of
Physical Education and Dance.
Cricket at Dartford College
1932 © The Ӧsterberg Collection
A representative side was selected by the WCA to tour to Australia in 1939. However, the out break of WW II
made that impossible. Women’s cricket ceased completely until 1946, apart from the occasional match to raise
money for charity.
18Report of the WCA Touring Team to Australia and New Zealand
1934—35
Details taken from the Women’s Cricket Year Book 1935 page 18. Additional information has been
included.
Archdale, Elizabeth (Betty) (Captain) St Leonards School, St Andrews, and Comp Cricket Club.
Burletson, Mary S. Roedean School and Anstey P.T.C.
Child, Elizabeth Mary (Mollie) St George’s School, Harpenden, Dartford P.T.C. and
Cuckoos C.C.
Green, Helen Elizabeth (Betty) Hamilton House School, Tunbridge Wells, Dartford
P.T.C., Cuckoos and Gunnersbury Cricket Clubs.
Hide, Molly Wycombe Abbey School and Reading University.
Liebert Joyce (Joy) St Leonards School, St Andrews.
Maclagan Myrtle Royal School, Bath and Minley Manor Club.
Morgan Grace Civil Service Headquarters W.C.C.
Partridge, J.E. (Joy) St Mary’s and St Anne’s, Abbot’s Bromley and Dartford
P.T.C.
Richards Mary E. Clifton High School and Bedford P.T.C.
Snowball, Elizabeth A, (Betty) (Vice Captain) St Leonards School, St Andrews, Bedford P.T.C. and
Winchester C.C.
Spear Mary Frances St Paul’s School and Dartford P.T.C.
Taylor Mary Isabella (known as Peta) Gunnersbury Cricket Club.
Turner Doris M. Gunnersbury Cricket Club.
Valentine Carol Wycombe Abbey School and Cuckoos C.C.
In The Suffragette’s Daughter, Betty Archdale, the author, Deirdre
Macpherson, incorrectly states on page 59 that Betty Green was at school
with Betty Archdale. That is not the case. Betty Green attended Hamilton
House School in Royal Tunbridge Wells.
The members of the 1934 touring team were all required to use similar
trunks. These had a green band painted around them and the initial of
the player’s surname clearly marked. This was to assist the porters © Jane Claydon
responsible for unloading the players’ luggage. Betty Snowball’s trunk
Betty Snowball’s trunk, taken on the 1934 tour, is at present on loan to the
MCC at Lords, from St Leonards School. It was lent for the exhibition
about the development of women’s cricket, but it was unable to open in
April 2020, as planned, because of the Covid 19 pandemic.
The trunk was also exhibited at Dartford at a cricket exhibition in 2015.
https://lords-stg.azureedge.net/mediafiles/lords/media/documents/
evolution-of-women-s-cricket-exhibition.pdf
19Significant women cricketers who attended Dartford College of Physical Education
i) Mary Duggan (1946)
Mary was one of the most well known cricketers of her era. She was born in 1925 and educated at The Royal
School, Bath, before attending Dartford College between 1943-46. She was one of the students who was based at
Newquay, during WWII.
Mary taught at Queen Ethelburga’s School, Harrogate (1946—1950) and The Henrietta Barnett School, London,
(1950—1953) before being appointed to the staff of Dartford College in 1953 where she remained in post until 1959.
She was appointed a LLC Inspector of PE in 1960 and Deputy Principal of Dartford College and Principal Lecturer
of PE in 1964.
Mary was a left-arm fast-medium bowler, who played for Worcestershire and Yorkshire, before being selected to
play for her country. Mary’s obituary in 1973, in the Physical Education Association Magazine, recorded: In 1949
she played in her first Test in Adelaide at the age of 22. In 1951, in the final Test Match at Kennington Oval, Mary’s
bowling made cricket history. She took 9 wickets and at one stage in the second innings had taken 5 wickets for 5
runs.
© The Ӧsterberg Collection
An article in The Times on 22nd July 1951 was headed:
Miss Duggan shows grace and power. The text
included:
The peak of the day’s pleasure came from a not-out
century of grace and distinction and considerable
power by Miss Duggan, England’s captain... No
praise is too high for Miss Duggan’s effort with 17
fours and her mastery of all the aristocratic strokes
from the late cut and the cover drive to the potent pull
and the meticulously timed sweep...
In 1958 Mary was selected captain of the English team
which toured Australia and New Zealand and she
continued to lead England until she retired, finishing her
playing career with a century against Australia at the Oval
in 1963.
Mary was President of the Women’s Cricket Association
from 1971—1973. She took a keen interest in cricket at
Left: 1957, Miss Dickinson (L)
Dartford. Mary was a mentor for many of the England
and Miss Duggan (R)
cricket players who attended the college during her time
as a member of staff. Mary’s legendary play has lived on,
well beyond her time in post at college.
20Tribute to Mary Duggan
by The Royal School, Bath
A copy is held in The Ӧsterberg Collection
21© The Ӧsterberg Collection (Information compiled by members of the archive team.)
Also see The Ӧsterberg Collection Hall of Fame
http://bergmanosterbergunion.org.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Mary-Duggan.pdf
Mary Duggan 1925 – 1973 Educationalist and Icon of Women’s Cricket
22The Kingsfield Book of Remembrance includes a tribute to Mary Duggan
written by Mrs Margaret Chamberlain.
The complete document may be viewed:
https://bergmanosterbergunion.org.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/KBR-Duggan-web.pdf
23Mary Duggan’s obituary was published in the
Bergman Österberg Magazine, in 1973
A copy of the funeral service sheet is held in The Ӧsterberg Collection.
A copy of the address, given by Mrs M.J. Chamberlain, at the Memorial Service for Mary Duggan held at
college on 11th May 1973, was published in the BӦU Magazine in 1974.
24Significant women cricketers who attended Dartford College of Physical Education
ii) Norma Preston (1954) (Mrs Izzard) OBE
President of the W.C.A. from 1994—1998 and the longest serving Senior England Manager.
In total she was the Manager of twelve international tours.
Dartford College cricket team 1952
Norma Preston
Cricket awards presentation, the Women's Ashes. Left to right: Norma Izard, Past President WCA, Quenton
Bryce, President Women's Cricket, Australia and Belinda Clark , Australian Captain
© The Ӧsterberg Collection
In 1998 Norma presented this trophy, known as the Women’s Ashes, to commemorate the dissolution of the WCA.
and the merging with the ECB.
Norma was one of the first group of ten women, with Rachael Heyhoe Flint, to be made an Honorary Life Member
of the MCC in 1999.
Gill Metcalfe, writing in the 2005 BÖU Magazine, said: In 2000 Norma was invited by the MCC to form and Chair a
Sub-Committee/Working Party responsible for introducing women players into the club in line with the existing
tradition of men being able to gain membership through participating in ‘out matches’. This Committee had the task
of arranging fixtures; selecting players, organising coaching sessions and overseas tours for women. Norma
subsequently became the first MCC Squad Manager, responsible for playing members
251956
Back row, far right, Sheila Plant. Front row, far right Mollie Hunt.
Below cricketers at Dartford in 1964
26Significant women cricketers who attended Dartford College of Physical Education
iii) Rachael Heyhoe (1960) ( Mrs Heyhoe Flint) Baroness Heyhoe Flint OBE, DL
A great deal has been written about Rachael and full details of her life and her cricket career maybe found
elsewhere, for example in the WCA archive, books, articles, internet searches about women’s cricket and in her
autobiography Heyhoe, published in 1978.
Rachael’s obituary, written by Anne Stuart (1977) and published in the Bergman Ӧsterberg Magazine in 2018,
(available in the Members Section of The Ӧsterberg Collection website) provides an insight into her life. An excerpt
is included below:
27Significant women cricketers who attended Dartford College of Physical Education
iv) Enid Turton (1962) (Mrs Bakewell) MBE
Enid was married by the time she played for the English women’s
cricket team in 12 Tests between 1968 and 1979 and in 23 one-day
international matches. A right-handed bat and slow left-arm bowler,
she is often regarded as the best all-rounder that the English
women's game has produced.
In Tests she scored 1,078 runs at an average of 59.88, with four
centuries, as well as taking 50 wickets at an average of 16.62. She
scored 112 not out and took 10 for 75 against West Indies at
Edgbaston in 1979. Enid was invited to join the England 1968-69
tour and played in all three Tests against Australia and all three Enid bowling at Lords in 1976
Tests against New Zealand. She opened the batting in her first
Test, against Australia in 1968, and made a century. Enid also
scored centuries opening the batting in the first and second Tests
against New Zealand in 1969. On this tour, she achieved a batting
average of 39.6 in 29 innings, and took 118 wickets at a bowling
average of 9.7.
In the final match, of the first ever, Women’s World Cup competition
in 1973 against Australia, which England won, Enid scored 118 and
took 2/28 in 12 overs. She also played in the 1982 Women’s Cricket
World Cup, taking 3 for 13 against India at Wanganui and then 3 for
29 against the International XI at Wellington.
Enid played in the three Tests at home against Australia in 1973
and in the three Tests at home versus the West Indies in 1979. At
Edgbaston in 1979, she scored 68 in the first innings and scored
112, not out, in the second innings. Enid took 10 for 75 in the match (3-14 and 7-61). She qualified as an England
Cricket Board coach.
England Team v Australia 1976. Jubilee of WCA © The Ӧsterberg Collection
Dartford team members are circled:
Chris Watmough, Jill.Cruyws, Rachael Heyhoe, Enid Bakewell, Pam. Ferdinand Heather Dewdney
Enid was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2012, becoming the third woman cricketer to do so. (Rachel
Heyhoe-Flint was the first to achieve this.) Enid was awarded an MBE in the 2019 New Year Honours. Enid was
included in Wisden in 1970 for her 1,000 runs and 100 wickets in a series.
28International cricketers who attended Dartford College 1957—1968
Mollie Hunt (1957) (Mrs Buckland) played for England and Kent. She was a member of the English
Women’s Touring Team to South Africa in 1960—61. The team played test matches in Port Elizabeth,
Johannesburg and Cape Town, in 1961. Mollie was Vice Chair of the WCA in 1976.
Jackie Elledge (1958) (Mrs Wood) represented England in a series of three test matches against Australia in
1961. She played primarily as a batter.
Sheila Plant (1958) played in eight test matches for the England women's cricket team between 1960/61 and
1968/69. She was a wicket keeper. After her playing career was over she umpired and was a scorer at
representative matches.
Rachael Heyhoe (1960) (Mrs Heyhoe Flint) A great deal has been written and published elsewhere about
Rachael and her exceptional career. Her influence and considerable achievements are acknowledged here but the
details of her career have been widely published and are accessible to researchers via the internet, or in published
books written by modern authors such as: Isabelle Duncan and Raf Nicholson.
Ann Jago (1960) played in two Test matches for the England women ’s cricket against South Africa during the
1960–61 season. The games took place in Durban and Cape Town.
Mary Pilling (1960) (Mrs Evans) was a pace bowler. She played eleven test matches for the England women's
cricket team between 1963 and 1976. During the 1968/69 tour she took 4 for 53 against New Zealand. She played
in the 1973 World Cup.
Sandra E. Brown (1961) played in three Test matches for the England Women’s cricket team against Australia
in 1963. She scored 148 runs at an average of 37 and bowled 42 wicket less overs.
Enid Turton (1962) (Mrs Bakewell) Detailed statistics about Enids very successful career are published
elsewhere.
Jill Cruwys (1965 ) (Mrs Smart) made her test debut in 1969 as a member of the England women's team who
played against New Zealand in Wellington. Jill played in the England
team who won the first Women’s Cricket World Cup in July 1973. In a
total she played in five tests and made her last test appearance in
1976 when England played Australia, in Birmingham.
Heather Dewdney (1968)(Mrs Hole) was invited to write about her
cricket career. She recalled:
I was selected, before leaving College, in late 1967, for the tour of
Australia and New Zealand. We left on December 3rd 1968 and
returned via Fiji, Hawaii, plus a match in San Francisco and New York
in April 1969.
I didn't apply for a "proper" job until my return and instead worked
temporarily at Priest Hill ILEA playing fields where I got to know a
variety of international cricket and rugby players who spent their then
"close" seasons coaching in schools.
Rachael then led us on unofficial tours of Jamaica in 1970 and
© The Ӧsterberg Collection Jamaica and Trinidad in 1971 before we won the inaugural cricket
World Cup, played in England in 1973. We went to India in 1978, to
defend the World Cup, but lost out to Australia.
Pam Ferdinand (1968) (Mrs Mather) was selected in 1970 for Rachael Heyhoe Flint’s touring team to Jamaica.
In 1973 Pam played in the winning England World Cup team, in England’s One Day International and, in the
Women’s Limited Overs international.
Chris Watmough (1968) was brought up in Preston, in Lancashire. She is a left hander. She arrived at
college in 1965 as an accomplished cricketer and was immediately selected for the College 1st XI. In 1968 she
was selected for the touring team to Australia. Chris played in thirteen Test matches for the England women’s
cricket team between 1968/69 and 1984/85.
She excelled as a batter and scored 397 runs. Chris also played twenty eight One Day International matches
during which she made 593 runs.
29Left:
© Chris Watmough
Chris Watmough
Below:
Pam Ferdinand (Mrs Mather)
The England Touring Team to Australia and New Zealand 1968/69
© The Ӧsterberg Collection
Former Dartford students are circled:
Back row, Rachael Heyhoe, Sheila Plant and Mary Pilling
Front row: Chris Watmough, Heather Dewdney, Enid Bakewell (Turton) and Jill Cruyws
30Appendix
Ruth Westbrook (Mrs Prideaux), trained at Anstey College between 1948-1951 is
included in this publication as she coached a number of students mentioned on
previous pages. Ruth was a member of staff at Dartford College of Physical
Education between 1959-1964.
She played in eleven test matches between 1957 and 1963.
Ruth was appointed England’s first, full time, coach in 1988 and her players won
the World Cup in 1993.
There is a considerable amount of material about Ruth is available on line and so
two excerpts from her obituary, written by Anne Stuart (1977) and published in the
BӦU Magazine in 2017, (available in the Members Section of The Ӧsterberg
Collection website) are included in this publication.
31References
https://crickether.com/2016/05/08/ruth-prideaux-a-remarkable-lady/
Duncan, Isabelle Skirting the Boundary A History of Women’s Cricket. Robson Press 2013
Heyhoe Flint, Rachael and Rehinberg, Netta Fair Play: The Story of Women’s Cricket Angus and
Robertson Publishers 1976
Joy, Nancy Maiden Over A Short hHstory of Women’s Cricket and a diary of the 1948—49 Test Tour to
Australia. Unwin Brothers Ltd 1950
Knight, Francis A History of Sidcot School. Dent 1908.
Nicholson, Rafaelle Ladies and Lords: A History of Women’s Cricket in Britain. Peter Lang Ltd 2019
St Leonards School Gazette 1898
The Ӧsterberg Collection
Photographs
Bergman Ӧsterberg Magazines
The Kingsfield Book of Remembrance
WCA Year Books 1926 and 1927
Wisden 1970 Enid Bakewell ttps://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/152414.html
Further reading
Internet searches will provide additional information about many players mentioned in this document.
Date unknown
© Jane Claydon and The Ӧsterberg Collection
June 2021
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